mantel

Valentine’s Mantel 2013, Pretty in Pink

February 12, 2013 By Debbie Filed Under: mantel, Valentine, valentine's day

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Pink and white are on my Valentine’s mantel this year, along with pieces of white pottery. I tried to keep it fairly simple and think I succeeded. Cute white birds and fresh flowers help to remind me that Spring will soon be here.

pink Valentines fireplace

The windows came from the old house I used to live in. If you click on the link, you will be taken to an old post with pictures of the old house……the old posts always crack me up!

lantern

I got the lantern at a Pottery Barn outlet.

pink tulpis

The carnations lasted for a long time but sadly the tulips didn’t.

pink tulpis2

I loved the way they looked bending over the side of the vase.

pink Valentines fireplace2

White pottery is such a great collection. You can come up with ways to use it over and over again. I have so many pieces but still keep looking for unusual or vintage pieces.

tissue paper flower buds

In the pitcher are twigs with tissue paper flower buds.

valentine fireplace mantel 2

Here’s how to make the flower buds: cut a circle of tissue paper, ( I cut different sizes), put a dab of glue in the center and fold in half, then fold in half the other way and squish together to form a flower bud. Then glue them in different spots on the branches. I used a low temperature glue gun to keep from getting burned.

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Happy Valentine’s day, how are you celebrating?

Thanks for visiting! Debra (((xx)))

5 Comments

Christmas mantle 2012

December 10, 2012 By Debbie Filed Under: Christmas, decorating, Holiday, mantel, mantle

This year the mantle is decorated in aqua and teal blues, paired with shades of lime green. The center focal point is a new, large ornament from TJMAXX but everything else came from my huge collection of Christmas decorations. My mantra for Christmas decorating this year should be greenery and Christmas balls everywhere!

Christmas mantle

For the past several years I haven’t put up a tree, but the house can still look festive and pretty without one! The kitchen, dining room and family room are all decorated with plenty of greenery and pretty ornaments.

Christmas wreath trio

I’ve always liked the look of a trio of wreaths, so I added them above the mantle.

Christmas urn

A faux wreath is surrounding the twigs in my thrift shop urn and freshly clipped greens are tucked in.

large aqua ball on mantle

Every year after Christmas, I think about replacing the old faux swag and replacing it with a fuller one. For now I just tuck in lots of fresh greens.

green blue Christmas ornaments

Most of these plastic ornaments are from Walmart. They do have a nice selection of ornaments.

green blue mantle fareplace 3

On the center wreath, I pictured a loosely draped, satin ribbon but I couldn’t find what I was looking for so I settled for a metallic mesh ribbon.

green blue mantle fareplace 2

That’s the Christmas mantle this year! It’s hard coming up with a new look every year.

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This was the mantle last year, done in silver and white. The ‘O holy night’ got recycled this year in the dining room. I’ll be posting that soon. Lots more past Christmas décor and recipes HERE.

Added to Inspire me Monday at Create with Joy

Are you finished decorating? Got all those cookies baked? Shopping done? Isn’t Christmas exhausting! HO HO HO……..!

Thanks for visiting! Debra (((xx)))

12 Comments

The Autumn mantel

September 26, 2012 By Debbie Filed Under: atuumn decorating, decorating, Fall, mantel, mantle

The Autumn mantel this year is pretty simple with no bright orange colors like last years. I used the mirror I found at the thrift store, flanked by fresh branches from the yard, the other half of the pumpkin I cut in half and some Annie Sloan chalk painted pumpkins.

aautumn mantel 1

I found the green vases at the thrift store for 10¢ and the pedestal vase on the left is a Haeger and was only a dollar. Haeger pottery is fairly easy to find at thrift shops and I really like the soft colors and shapes.

autumn mantel 5

The thrift shop mirror was painted with Annie Sloan in Chateau grey.

autumn mantel 4

The pumpkins are painted in pretty shades of Annie Sloan chalk paint.

autumn mantel left side

Here’s a closer look at the Haeger pedestal vase on the left side of the mantel.

autumn mantel stenciled pumpkin

On the right side, the pumpkin that I cut in half and stenciled needed to be attached to a surface because it wouldn’t stand on it’s own. I glued in on a small piece of wood and painted that the same color.

autumn mantel 11

That’s the Autumn mantel this year. It’s so different from last year’s mantel.

Linked up at Centsational girl mantel party. There are a lot of mantels over there!

Are you a lover of the oranges and traditional colors of Fall or do you like the softer colors better?

Thanks for visiting! Debra (((xx)))

5 Comments

Spring Mantel 5 ways

March 28, 2012 By Debbie Filed Under: decorating, Decorative Details, mantel, mantle

Take a look at these different versions of the Spring mantel. I used the same pieces in each, just left out a few. Which version do you prefer?

Putting together a Spring mantel was not high priority this year. We were still painting, and things were pretty much a mess, but I finally got my mantel groove on. Spring mantel 12

For fresh greenery, I bought some outdoor plants at Lowe’s, figuring I’d plant them outside later and collected things from around the house and my ~~hoard~~ stash in the basement. I arranged and rearranged and felt pretty good about it, then the husband, Bill, said, “is that how you’re leaving it? It looks like too much stuff.” Really? I liked it, but was willing to make it less busy.

By moving the plants closer to the sign, removing and rearranging, I created a slightly different look in each version.

a mantel 1and 2 variations